Control valve



CONTROL VALVE Filed Feb. 24, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l RCh 3, A' Q ROWLEY CONTROL VALVE Filed Feb. 24, 1955 2 Shees-Sheet 2 /3 @ggg Patented Mar. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTROL VALVE Application February 24, 1933, Serial No. 658,410

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in control valves for automatic sprinkler systems, and a principal object of the invention i's to provide a simple and efficient valve combining the functions of independent control, drain and alarm valves.

Another and more specic object of the invention is to provide a valve of the general character set forth comprising novel means for locking on its seat the valve element which controls the passage of water or other fluid from the supply main to the sprinkler system, and for simultaneously rendering a drain means for the system operative to free the system of accumulated fluid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel alarm device actuated by sudden substantial diierences in fluid pressure at opposite sides of the valve.

Still another object of the invention is to provide novel means for preventing accidental actuation of the alarm due to surges or resurges in the supply and sprinkler systems.

The invention further resides in certain no-vel and improved structural and mechanical features hereinafter described and illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a valve made in accordance with my invention showing the parts in the relative positions to which they are adjusted when the device is set for operation;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2 2, Fig. 1, showing details of the alarm device;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken through the casing on the line 3 3, Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view corresponding to Fig.

1 but showing the parts adjusted to their inoperative positions, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view on the line 5 5, Fig. 2.

With reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the valve in a preferred embodiment comprises a casing I having an inlet port 2 adapted for connection to a fluid supply main and an outlet port 3 adapted for connection with the sprinkler system. In the interior of the valve and between these ports is formed a seat 4 for a valve clapper 5 pivotally mounted in the casing at 6 and having associated therewith a retaining lever 'I also pivotally mounted on the pivot 6. One arm of the lever 'I engages in a recess in the upper face` of the clapper 5, while the other end is engaged by the head of a plunger 8, this plunger being slidably mounted in a longitudinal recess in a valve stem 9 threaded into a cap II constituting a part of the casing I. Between the inner face of the cap I I and the head of the plunger 8 is a spring I2 which normally exerts a pressure upon the plunger forcing it resiliently against the valve-retaining lever 1. The stem 9 has at its outer end a hand wheel I3, and the inner end of 5 the stem carries a valve i4 which normally and as shown in Fig. 1 seats in the inner face of the cap II to seal the port I5 in said cap through which the stem extends into the interior of the valve casing. The port I5 at its outer end com- 10 municates with a chamber I6 in the cap II, and this chamber, see Fig. 3, communicates through a passage I1 in the cap and in the wall of the casing proper with a port I8 which is connected to a suitable drain. It will be apparent that when 15 the hand wheel i3 is turned to advance the stem inwardly in the threaded cap, the valve I4 will be moved from its seat, thereby opening the port I5 and connecting the drain chamber I 6 with the interior chamber of the valve casing. Also the 20 stem 9 is capable of being turned inwardly sufliciently to bring the valve I4 into engagement with the head 8 of the plunger when the latter is in the norma-l position shown in Fig. 1. The purpose of this adjustment will be described here- 25 inafter.

The valve casing I on the sprinkler system side of the clapper 5 is provided with a port I1 which is connected through suitable pipe connections I 8 with one end of a casing I9. 'I'he 30 other end of the casing I 9 is connected through a suitable iitting 2I with a port 22 in the valve casing, which port communicates with a passage 23 formed in the wall of the casing. The passage 23 communicates through a port 24 with the in- 35 terior of the casing at the intake side of the clapper 5; and the passage 23 is also connected through a port 25 with the interior of the casing at the opposite or sprinkler system side of the clapper. The port 25 is controlled by a ball check 40 2E, the arrangement of this check valve being such that the ball normally closes the port 25 as shown. The port 24 is controlled by a needle valve 21 threaded into the casing and adjustable from the exterior of the latter, and means is pro- 45 vided in the form of a lever 28 pivotally secured to the outer exposed end of the valve 21 for locking this valve in the open position shown in Fig.

I. The lever 28 is apertured for reception of an apertured lug 2S projecting from the casing, and 50 the aperture in the said lever 28 will register with the lug 29 only when the needle valve 21 is in a predetermined open position. The aperture in the lug 2B is adapted for reception of a suitable wire seal 3I of well known type, rupture of which 55 to release the lever 28 will indicate that the device has been tampered with. When this seal is intact, therefore, it may be assumed that the needle valve 21 is in the normal open position.

The interior of the casing I9 is illustrated in Fig. 2. In each end of this cylinder is secured a flexible diaphragm, 32 and 33 respectively, the ends of the cylinder being so formed that shallow chambers, 34 and 35 respectively, are formed between the inner surfaces of the cylinder heads and the outer surfaces of the diaphragms. The port 35 through which communication is established between the duct I8 and the interior of the casing I9 has inserted in its inner end a plunger 31, this plunger being so formed that clearance is provided between its sides and the Walls of the port 36. The plunger 31 has at its inner end an enlarged head portion 38, the peripheral edge of which registers with one or more recesses 39 in the cylinder head. By reason of the recesses 39 and the concaved contour of the inner face of the cylinder head opposed to the head 38, there is established a continual open passage between the port 35 and the chamber 34. A corresponding plunger 4I is provided in the port 42 establishing communication between the interior of the casing I9 and the duct 2|, and the inner face of this head of the cylinder is also provided with one or more recesses 43 corresponding to the recesses 39 previously described whereby a passage is established between the chamber 35 and the port 42.

Between the diaphragms 32 and 33 is established a pair of cylinders 44 and 45, the cylinder 44 embracing the cylinder 45 and the opposite ends of the cylinders engaging the inner faces of the respective diaphragms. The cylinders 44 and 45 are relatively movable with respect to each other in the axial direction. Also each cylinder is provided at diametrically opposite points with an aperture, which apertures register as shown in Fig. 2 to provide openings 46, 46 extending through the walls of the double cylinder. In the interior of the cylinder 45 is mounted a sheet metal or other drum 41 having extending therethrough and projecting Vthrough the elongated openings 46 a metal pin 48, the projecting ends of this pin being adapted for contact respectively with electric terminal elements 49 and 5I respectively secured to the outer cylinder 44 and projecting beyond the end edges of the openings 46. The terminals 49 and 5I form elements of an alarm circuit indicated by the reference numeral 52, and this circuit is closed under conditions hereinafter described by the pin 48 when Vthe latter comes in contact with the terminals 49 and 5I.

Assuming that the fluid pressures applied to the outer sides of the diaphragms 32 and 33 through the-ports 36 and 42 respectively are the same, it will be apparent that the drum 49 will be maintained in an intermediate or neutral position, such for example as shown in Fig. 2. Should, however, the fluid pressure at the port 36 drop materially below the uid pressure at the port 42, the heavier pressure at the latter port will cause a flexing of the diaphragm 33 inwardly, moving the drum 41 towards the opposite end of the cylinder and eventually bringing the pin 48 in contact with the terminal elements 43 and 5I to close the alarm circuit 52. In this movement of the drum 41, the diaphragm 32 is bowed towards the adjacent head of the cylinder; and the cylinders 44 and 45 being relatively movable conform readily to the bowed positions of the diaphragm, the movement of the cylinder 44 being relatively small by reason of its contact with those portions of the diaphragm immediately adjacent the clamped edges thereof, and the movement of the cylinder 45 being slightly greater by reason of its relative remoteness to the fixed peripheral edges of the diaphragm. By reason of the plunger 31, the diaphragm 32 is incapable of entirely closing the port 36, so that any uid pressure applied through the port 35 will necessarily always be applied in effect to the entire exposed face of the diaphragm. The plunger 4I similarly prevents the diaphragm 33 from entirely closing the port 42.

In describing the operation of the Valve, it will be considered that the parts are adjusted to the positions shown in Fig. l, wherein the valve is shown in its operating setting. Assuming that the port 2 is connected to a water main, water pressure will be applied to the adjacent side of the valve clapper 5, and since the sprinkler system is also connected with the water main through the ports 24 and 25, the entire system will be flooded and the pressures at opposite sides of the valve clapper will be the same. Under these conditions, the pressure of the spring I2 is suflicient `to hold the clapper to its seat. Also the fluid pressure upon the outer faces of the diaphragms 32 and 33 of the alarm device I9 will be the same whereby the parts will be maintained in the normal positions shown in Fig. 2. It will be noted further that under these conditions the valve I4 is seated and the needle valve 21 backed away to open the port 24. Assuming that under these conditions pressure on the sprinkler system side of the clapper 5 is reduced by the opening, for example, of one of the sprinkler heads, the consequent reduction of pressure in that chamber of the casing I communicating with the sprinkler system results in a corresponding reduction of fluid pressure upon the diaphragm 32 of the alarm device, and the relatively high fluid pressure which by reason of the restricted character of the port 25 is still exerted on the diaphragm 33 causes a movement of the drum 41 and a consequent closing of the alarm circuit 52 as previously described. Also the reduced pressure at the system side of the clapper 5 permits the pressure of the water main to force this valve from its seat, thereby permitting flow of water from the main to the sprinkler system.

If it is desired to interrupt the flow of water from the sprinkler system, the valve stem 9 is turned inwardly through the medium of the hand wheel I3 until the valve I4 engages the inner face of the head of the plunger 8, and further until the plunger is advanced against the lever 1 of the valve clapper 5 suiciently to return this clapper to its seat. The needle valve 21 is also turned inwardly to close the port 24 so that flow of water from the main to the system is entirely prevented. Inward movement of the valve I4 uncovers the port I5 and connects the sprinkler system through the drain chamber I6 and passage I1 with the drain port I8 whereby the water remaining in pressure in the supply main, again assume their normal positions as shown in Fig. 1. Surges of water in the supply line are permitted to vent through the port 25 into the sprinkler system without actuating the alarm, and the check 26 prevents actuation by resurge from the sprinkler system.

It will be apparent that the device is suited for use in a dry pipe system as Well as in the Wet system described above. Under these circumstances, suiiicient air must be applied to the sprinkler system to balance the effect upon the ball check 26 and the clapper 5 of the water pressure in the main, and to balance by pressure on the diaphragm 32 the pressure of the water applied to the diaphragm 33. When sucient air pressure is applied, the Valves I4 and 21 may be adjusted to their seated and unseated positions respectively, the air pressure thereafter maintaining under normal conditions the ball check and the clapper 5 on their seats against the water pressure- I claim:

1. In a valve of the stated type, the combination with a casing having intake and discharge ports, of a valve seating in said casing and normally separating said ports, a bypass, ports connecting said bypass With the interior of the casing at opposite sides of said valve element respectively, the port connecting the bypass with the discharge side of said valve being relatively restricted, a check valve controlling the last-named port, said check valve permitting passage of fluid from the bypass into the interior of the casing while preventing a reverse flow, a pressureactuated switch comprising a casing communicating at opposite ends with said bypass and with the interior of the casing at the discharge side of said valve element, and an actuating member for said switch movable in said casing by relative variations in the fluid pressures applied from said connections and adapted to actuate the switch upon reduction of fluid pressure Within the valve casing at the discharge side of said Valve element,

2. In a valve of the stated type, the combination with a casing having intake and discharge ports adapted for connection respectively with a source of iiuid supply and with a sprinkler system, of a. valve element seating within said casing and normally preventing flow between said ports, a bypass connecting the interior of said casing at opposite sides of said valve element, the end of the bypass joining the discharge side of said valve being relatively restricted, a normally closed check valve permitting ow from said bypass into the casing at the discharge side of said valve element while preventing a reverse ow, ducts extending respectively from the bypass and the discharge side of said casing, and a switch device connected to said ducts adapted for actuation by difference in fluid pressure in the said bypass and in said sprinkler system resulting from a reduction in pressure within said system.

3. A iiuid pressure actuated switch device comprising a. casing having a port at each end thereof, flexible diaphragms dividing the interior of said casing into three chambers, two of said chambers communicating respectively with said ports, a plurality of telescoping cylinders mounted in the interior of said casing and having their opposite ends in engagement with said diaphragms, said cylinders being axially relatively movable, a pair of contact elements secured to the outer of said cylinders, said cylinders having registering apertures, a weighted member in the interior of the innermost cylinder, and a switch element carried by said weighted member and projecting through the oppositely disposed apertures in said cylinders and adapted for engagement of said contact elements to close the electric circuit, said weighted member being maintained in a normal intermediate position under equal pressures applied upon the diaphragms through said ports and being movable to close said circuit by a predominating pressure at one of said ports.

ARTHUR C. ROWLEY. 

